Riddell, Smale, Meadows chosen for World Book Day 2015

Authors David McKee, Chris Riddell, Michael Morpurgo, Holly Smale and Daisy Meadows are among the authors featuring in the line-up for the nine 2015 World Book Day £1 titles.

Meanwhile a debut World Book Day illustrator has also been chosen for the first year.
 
World Book Day director Kirsten Grant described the 2015 author list [full details below] as a “brilliant, brilliant line-up”, saying: “Since I took over in 2012 we’ve really wanted to go back to having best-selling authors, because we know that makes an impact on token redemption.”
 
From early March 2015, children in the UK and Ireland will be given a £1 (€1.50 in Ireland) book token in their nurseries and schools which they can use to claim their World Book Day title in bookshops across the country from 2nd March 2015. There are a total of 10 books on the list for children in the UK (11 in Ireland), covering the age groups of 2+ all the way to teen.
 
“Every year publishers put their suggestions forward, then a retail panel looks at the list,” said Grant. “It can be interesting at the meetings! We also need authors who will spread the world about World Book Day, so that’s always a consideration.”
 
Each £1 book will also feature a bonus extract from another author from the same publisher, to help young readers discover a new writer.
 
The World Book Day illustrator, unlike the authors, is relatively unknown. Sophy Henn was a finalist in the 2012 Waterstones "Picture This" competition and her first book, Where Bear, was published in August by Puffin. Henn will take part in several events, including the World Book Day show - The Biggest Book Show on Earth.
 
Now coming into its 18th year, World Book Day is one of the UK’s most successful children’s book initiative and the 2014 World Book Day increased the children’s book market by £1.12m
 
It took place this year 6th March and for the week ending 8th March, sales of children’s, YA and educational books topped £6.4m – a 21% increase from £5.3m the week before, according to Nielsen BookScan.
 
The 2015 World Book Day titles in full:
 
Age 2+:
The Dinosaur That Pooped A Lot! by Tom Fletcher & Dougie Poynter, illustrated by Garry Parsons (Random House Children’s Books)
Elmer’s Parade by David McKee (Andersen Press)
 
Age 5-7:
A Pirate’s Guide to Landlubbing by Jonny Duddle (Templar)
Magic Animal Friends: Lucy Longwhiskers Finds a Friend by Daisy Meadows (Orchard Books)
 
Age 7-9:    
The Diary of Dennis the Menace: World Book Menace Day by Steven Butler (Puffin)
Goth Girl and the Pirate Queen by Chris Riddell (Macmillan Children’s Books)
 
Age 9+:
Best Mates by Michael Morpurgo (HarperCollins Children’s Books)
Dork Diaries: How to be a Dork! by Rachel Renée Russell (Simon & Schuster )
 
YA:
Killing the Dead by Marcus Sedgwick (Orion Children’s Books)
Geek Girl: Geek Drama by Holly Smale (HarperCollins Children’s Books)
 
Ireland only:
The Fairytale Trap by Erika McGann (O’Brien)